Criticism
Fari had been a member of the band for about 2 weeks now. He still got stared at from time to time. The made-up nickname for him, "substitute Old," began circulating among the troop members. He and Inkesha were laying in his nest facing each other. He scooted closer to his girlfriend to cuddle her and rub his cheek against hers. As the two started showing affection like this, they were harshly interrupted.
"You'll have babies covered in grey fur," shouted a female farther from them while passing by.
The two suddenly jerked their heads toward the taunting one. Inkesha recognized her. She was one of her aunts from her mother's side! Fari's mate was so taken aback by this that she couldn't think of a comeback. Fari and she continued where they left off. Seconds later they were roused by another voice.
"And everyone will think the father is the Old!"
The couple glanced in the direction of the one who yelled at them. The girl realized it was Indira who was carrying her baby on her back.
"Hopefully your baby will not make fun of others UNLIKE HER MOTHER," bellowed Inkesha while shooting a hideous look at her.
This retort embarrassed Indira, she looked away and kept crawling as if nothing had happened. Fari's girlfriend knew well that this lady was her mother's friend. The mood to show love to her boyfriend was shoved out of her by that last remark and the anger it caused. The albino felt offended twice, he wasn't in the mood anymore as well. It didn't end there. A third female was following the two previous ones. She began coughing loudly whilst saying "mutant" while creeping by. Inkesha recognized this one: she was Indira's mother, her mom's best friend! It raised suspicions in her that her very own mother was behind the insults of her acquaintances since all 3 were linked to her. She wanted to ask her mom questions about this. The white-furred male looked sorrowful. Having observed this his girlfriend embraced him in a way that his face met with her chest which is a kind of hug given among their species when one wants to comfort another. After splitting the white silverback, who felt better, planted a kiss on her forehead out of gratitude.
"Fari, I presume my mother is behind these offenses. All three women are my mom's acquaintances: the first is my aunt, the second is her friend and the third is her best friend. I'd like know whether this is true by asking her some questions," she said.
"Okay. I'll go visit our friends while you talk with your mom," he replied. "It hurts to get such negative reactions from this troop."
"I know and I'm sorry to hear that. It bothers me how some treat you. It's strange to me that my mother's acquaintances began pestering us suddenly on this day 3 times in a row. This was probably planned out," she answered sadly.
The pair got up and went their ways. Inkesha crept up to her mother who was eating grasses not too far from the tree on which her nest was constructed.
"Mom, may I talk with you," she asked.
"Yes you may," replied the female who looked almost identical to her.
"Not long ago Fari and I were in his nest together and as we were hugging your sister, Mahirwe, said to us or me "You'll have babies covered in grey fur." This shocked me. Right after that Indira ended the sentence with "And everyone will think the father is the Old." This hurt my feelings and I shouted back to her. Then, your best friend, Rugira, called Fari "mutant" while coughing but letting that word be recognizable. Your sister and your friends offended us especially Fari, who told me that the negative reactions of the band towards him displeased him," reported her daughter expecting a reaction from her.
"Interesting... I'm sorry to hear that," she responded a little tensely.
"Is that all? You've aroused my suspicions since I noticed all three gorillas are your family or friends, and now because of your answer you're even more suspicious," responded Inkesha harshening her tone gradually. "Were you behind this or not?"
"Sort of. The girls were with me yesterday. I told them about your boyfriend," she retorted.
"What did you tell them," interrogated the young one. "There must be a reason why they exhibited this kind of behavior towards us," Fari's girlfriend added firmly.
"I told them that Fari is an albino and that I heard that he's inbred and maybe that's why he's albino..." she spat out nervously.
"And why is that a problem," asked Inkesha.
"He's... out of the norm, there's something wrong with him genetically. And I don't like it that you're his mate due to this and it's just strange to me," she confessed. "Have you considered other males before choosing him?"
A glare began forming on her offspring's face but as her understanding of things from a different viewpoint started increasing, her face smoothed back.
"I made a mistake with Keyta. I told you about this before. We decided to remain friends. A week after I stumbled upon Fari as I was searching for food. We talked for a while. I wanted to talk more and went back to see if he was still there. He was. I visited him every day before the band accepted him and as this went on our relationship strengthened. It turned out that he wants the same kind of relationship I do, a monogamous and child-free one. Most males aren't like that, they just mate with a female and leave her and mate with another female and leave that one and this repeats. He can't help it that he's inbred and has albinism, it's not his fault," she expounded in a calmer way. "I want to know why your sister and friends acted nasty."
"I told them that I don't agree with your being mates. They agreed with me and offered their help in splitting you apart..." she painfully confessed.
"And you accepted," deducted Inkesha disappointedly and whilst offended.
"Yes," croaked her mom.
Her child slowly shook her head out of rage and dejection wounded her. She promptly left her mother who called after her saying sorry but she hastily crept to find Fari. She noticed him sitting in the company of King Kong and Terkina. She joined the party then, described what she had discussed with her mother in great detail.
"Your mother, her sister and her friends really caused me pain. I also found out that the name "substitute Old" has been given to me. At times I still get ogled at, sometimes I see gorillas whispering to each other as I pass them by. I'm thinking about leaving this troop," he unhappily said.
"I don't think that's a good idea. If you're alone you could end up being overpowered and murdered by a group of carnivorous dinosaurs or you may run into Sharam, an exile, who is ill-tempered, strong and dangerous. There are gorillas in this band that respect you, are your friends and like you just the way you are such as Banagi, Keyta, Isuku, Terkina, Inkesha and me, moreover Inkesha loves you. So, it would be better if you stayed. Not everybody likes you and I think there will always be gorillas that won't. This goes for everyone, take Terk for example: she's not an average female, she is different. She is a tomboy and has been in a monogamous child-free relationship with me and has long hair on her head that stands up. She is disliked by most average females who consider not living in a long-term relationship with a male, mating with various males, raising kid after kid to be normal unlike Terk. She doesn't spend time with those females excluding my half-sister, she doesn't interact with them. She spends time with me and our circle of friends, we are a tight group. I advise you to avoid those who bring you down such as Inkesha's mother, her acquaintances, those who gossip about you and call you names," suggested King Kong.
"Thanks," replied Fari. "Our nests are close to those undesirable ones' nests. I'd like to nest close to you or our friends. Inkesha, can we move away from your mother, her family and her friends," he enquired.
"Yes we can," she answered. "I am very disappointed in my mother," she added crucially.
"Kong, can they nest close to us," surveyed Terkina.
"Yes. You can nest near us if you want," said King Kong. "But not too close, we'd like to have some personal space."
"Okay. Thanks," responded Terk's lady friend gratefully.
"Thank you," said the white gorilla.
Fari and his girlfriend built their places for rest that is moved closer to their friends.
